István Nagy: Brussels’ budget plan would direct farmers’ money to Ukraine and ruin agriculture

(Photo: drnagyistvan.hu)

The Minister called it a challenge to provide the growing global population with safe food and to protect the values ​​of our created world for future generations. Our country considers it a basic principle that the green transition can only be achieved in close cooperation with farmers. It is essential that producers receive fair compensation for environmentally and climate-friendly farming. We cannot ask more from farmers in exchange for less support, the Minister emphasized. István Nagy also spoke about the key role that both innovation and investments play in improving the competitiveness of food production, achieving sustainability goals and, with it, in the development of rural areas. However, Brussels’ budget plan would provide significantly fewer resources for their implementation after 2027. He explained that the Common Agricultural Policy’s autonomous and independent budget, based on two pillars, must continue to be preserved, as has been the case for the past 60 years and as the agriculture ministers unanimously requested in the Council conclusions adopted last December at the initiative of our country. The Brussels-Kiev trade pact regarding the import of Ukrainian agricultural products poses a further threat to farmers’ livelihoods. This situation is further complicated by the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, which would further narrow the markets and competitiveness of European producers. Hungary will therefore continue to take all necessary measures to protect the livelihoods of farmers and the EU funds they receive. We cannot jeopardize the livelihoods and competitiveness of producers, as well as the safe food supply and our daily bread, the head of the Ministry of Agriculture stated.

AM